2016 on-track to have highest number of overseas trips made by Irish residents since 2008

The number of overseas trips made by Irish residents annually is on track to reach highs not seen since 2008.

Figures from the Central Statistics Office show that the total number of overseas trips made by Irish residents in quarters one and two of this year is 3,453,000. This is an increase of 219,400 compared to last year’s figures.

If this growth continues in quarters three and four of this year, which trends suggest, 2016 will have the highest number of overseas trips made by Irish residents since the recession in 2008.

The number of people travelling to Ireland per quarter continues to increase also. The total number of people who travelled to Ireland in quarters one and two of this year was 4,383,600. This, once more, is an increase compared to last year’s numbers, which saw 507,400 less people travelling here.

Full figures for overseas trips made by Irish residents in quarters one and two from 2008 to 2016, as well as figures for overseas travelers travelling to Ireland, can be found in figure 1.

In quarters one and two of this year, more U.K. residents traveled to Ireland than residents from any other country – some 1,865,000 people in total. They were followed in numbers by residents from the USA and Canada, from where 758,300 visitors travelled to Ireland. Figures relating to the number of travelers per country travelling to Ireland can be found in figure 2.

>Figure 2: Total number of people per country travelling to Ireland in quarters one and two of 2016
Source: cso.ie

Total yearly figures show that 2015 had the highest number of North American travelers coming to Ireland in the last eight years. Some 1,514,200 North American travelers came to Ireland in 2015, compared to just over one million in 2008 – an increase of 50.7%.

U.K. residents continue to make up the largest number of visitors to Ireland, with 3,546,900 people travelling over in 2015. This number is still not as high as that from 2008 though when some 3,872,400, U.K. residents travelled over to Ireland.

Figures for the total number of overseas trips made by Irish residents per year, as well as the total number of trips made to Ireland by overseas travelers, from 2008 – 2015 can be found in figure 3.

Figure 3: Total number of overseas trips from 2008 – 2015
Source: cso.ie